India-Bound Renault Duster Revealed

The new India-bound Renault Duster has finally been revealed. The third-generation SUV is a badge-engineered version of the Dacia Duster that debuted in March. Both SUVs look nearly identical except for a few Renault-specific bits. The third-gen Duster is expected to launch in India by 2025. 

Renault is offering three powertrain options with the new Duster. First up is the hybrid powertrain which has a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to two electric motors. This powertrain produces 138 bhp and Renault claims a range of 980 km. The Duster will also get a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine with 48V mild hybrid tech with 128 bhp and it comes with 4x4 hardware with 5 modes – eco, auto snow, mud & sand and off-road. Lastly, the Renault also gets a 1.0-litre petrol engine that produces 99 bhp and this engine is also available with an LPG kit. 

Inside, the Renault Duster gets a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, reverse camera, wireless charger, two USB-C ports, cruise control and more. Unlike the Dacia, the Renault Duster doesn’t get the ‘YouClip’ accessory system but does seem to have a provision for it. The YouClip allows users to secure accessories like lights, screens, bottles, and keys throughout the interior. 

The new Duster will go on sale in Turkey in the second quarter of 2024. Expect the model to come to India either in late 2024 or 2025. It is expected to be priced over ₹10 lakh (ex-showroom, India) and will rival the likes of the Honda Elevate, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor and Citroen C3 Aircross.